February 1st, 2017 | EVALUATION
The San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT) contracted RK&A to conduct a summative evaluation of the exhibition Extraordinary Ideas from Ordinary People: A History of Citizen Science and to explore how well the exhibition communicates an inclusive view of science. The goals for the evaluation were to explore visitors’ behaviors in the exhibition as well as understand what meanings visitors made from the exhibition, particularly with regard to how the exhibition’s messages about citizen science are resonating in the context of visitors’ science identity.
RK&A conducted timing and tracking observations of 105 visitors (10 years and older) to provide an objective account of how visitors use the space, including time spent and exhibit components used. RK&A also conducted 100 in-depth exit interviews with visitors (10 years and older) in English and Spanish; visitors were asked about their experiences in the exhibition as well as questions about how they perceive themselves as doing science.
Document
2017_RKA_SDNHM_ExtraordinaryIdeas_Summ_final.pdf
Team Members
Amanda Krantz, Evaluator, Randi Korn & AssociatesErin Wilcox, Evaluator, Randi Korn & Associates
Gemma Mangione, Contributor, Randi Korn & Associates
Erica Kelly, Project Staff, San Diego Natural History Museum
Tags
Audience: Adults | Evaluators | General Public | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: General STEM | History | policy | law | Nature of science
Resource Type: Evaluation Reports | Interview Protocol | Observation Protocol | Research and Evaluation Instruments | Summative
Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits